Southern California -- this just in

Man holding knife to baby's throat shot by Moreno Valley police

July 22, 2012 | 12:39
pm

Moreno Valley police shot and wounded a man as he held a knife to a baby's throat during a domestic dispute Saturday, authorities said.

Officers arrived at a home in the 22000 block of Ella Avenue about 11 p.m. after a woman called 911 and said her boyfriend was holding the knife against the baby's throat and "she was worried he would injure the baby," according to a statement from the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

After arriving at the house, the man was still holding a "large knife" at the baby, authorities said.

"An officer repeatedly ordered the suspect to drop the knife, but he did not comply with the orders," a sheriff's statement said. "Fearing for the child's life, an officer fired his duty weapon, striking the suspect."

The baby was not hurt in the shooting, but was taken to a hospital for serious injuries inflicted earlier by the suspect, authorities said. The man, whose name has not been released, was also taken to a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

No other injuries were reported.

An investigation into the incident is ongoing, authorities said. The officer involved in the shooting was placed on paid administrative leave, per standard protocol.